Smotrich promises: "A good government will be established in the coming days" (Knesset Channel)
The coalition agreement between Likud and religious Zionism entrusts Bezalel Smotrich with unprecedented powers regarding construction in the settlements and relations with the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, reduces the weight of the IDF and security considerations on policy and increases the weight of political considerations in decision-making.
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why is it important
The powers that Smotrich receives are a dream come true for the settlements lobby.
Smotrich is a settler, an extreme right-wing man and a supporter of Jewish supremacy who wants to annex the West Bank, expand construction in the settlements and increase the demolition of Palestinian homes in an attempt to push them out of Area C. His new role will allow him to accomplish this.
All this will happen while the West Bank is in the most explosive state it has been in since the second intifada two decades ago.
The weakening of the Palestinian Authority, the dramatic increase in the number of attacks and the number of Palestinian deaths and the escalation of violence against Palestinians by settlers threaten to degenerate the area into a third intifada.
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The big picture
Since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967, it has not annexed these territories and has not officially applied its law to them.
The sovereign in the territory was the commander of the Central Command together with the coordinator of the operations in the territories.
Both were subordinate to the Minister of Defense, who was the member of the government responsible for policy in the West Bank.
For the first time since 1967, the coalition agreement splits the powers of the Minister of Defense and transfers all powers concerning the West Bank, with the exception of operational activity, to Smotrich as "Minister in the Ministry of Defense".
While the Minister of Defense will remain responsible for the operational activity in the West Bank and dealing with escalation in the field, Smotrich will take over a large part of the powers to carry out measures that could lead to an increase in tensions.
Powers with tremendous political and international sensitivity.
Smotrich (Photo: Reuven Castro)
All the powers that Smotrich received relate to areas of great political and international sensitivity, especially at a time when a president from the Democratic Party sits in the White House and when proceedings are being conducted against Israel in two international tribunals.
The powers that Smotrich received are a significant change in the way Israel has treated the occupied territories since 1967. After 55 years in which Israel claimed that these are territories that are temporarily "held" by it until a political agreement is reached, Smotrich's appointment conveys the complete opposite.
In the news center
Smotrich will take responsibility for the operations coordination unit in the territories and the civil administration subordinate to it.
These are two military units that over the years have been the arm of the government to manage the occupation in the West Bank and to expand the settlements project.
However, a large part of the role of these two units in the last three decades was to manage the security and civil coordination with the Palestinian Authority and to take care of the Palestinian population in areas C which are under full Israeli control.
Smotrich supports the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority.
Since the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and even more so since the Hamas takeover of the Strip, the Coordinator of Operations in the Territories serves as the almost sole channel of communication with the international organizations and civil authorities in Gaza.
Smotrich's steps may lead to increased tensions.
A settlement in Samaria (Photo: Reuven Castro)
By controlling the coordinator of operations in the territories and the civil administration, Smotrich will be able to control the granting of building permits in the settlements, the planning procedures in which the status and allocation of lands are determined and outline plans are approved, as well as a number of civil issues that concern the Palestinian population, from the demolition of houses to water quotas.
According to the coalition agreement, Smotrich will also be the one to appoint the coordinator of operations in the territories and the head of the Civil Administration - two officials appointed to this day by the Chief of Staff and the Minister of Defense.
In addition, Smotrich accepts in the coalition agreement the ability to appoint legal advisers as political appointees in an attempt to legalize legally controversial moves.
the other side
On five different occasions throughout the coalition agreement, it is emphasized that Smotrich's actions will only be in coordination with the Prime Minister and with his consent.
This means that Netanyahu will have veto power over any step that Smotrich wants to take.
For example, it is written in the coalition agreement that it is Netanyahu who will approve the appointments that Smotrich wants to make to the post of the National Security Council and head of the Civil Administration. Also, it is Netanyahu who will head the ministerial committee that will determine which construction plans in the settlements will be promoted.
American Secretary of State Tony Blinken made it clear yesterday (Sunday) that the administration will oppose Israeli measures in the areas transferred to Smotrich's responsibility.
For the Americans, Smotrich is not expected to be an interlocutor.
The United States Ambassador to Israel Tom Neides was asked several times in an interview on IDF radio this morning whether he would work with Smotrich and replied that he would work with Prime Minister-designate Netanyahu.
It is difficult to see how he will be able to control the actions of each and every minister - especially the extreme ones.
Netanyahu (Photo: Reuven Castro)
The Americans intend to demand that Netanyahu fulfill the public commitment he made according to which he will be the one with "both hands on the wheel" and dictate government policy.
However, despite all the veto clauses that Netanyahu inserted in the coalition agreements and his public statements, it is difficult to see how he will be able to control the actions of each and every minister - and especially in the hands of the extremists in their hands.
Anyone who believes that Netanyahu will be able to control at the same time the "educational" initiatives of Avi Maoz, the way in which Itamar Ben Gabir operates the Security Guard companies transferred under his authority and Ben Gabir's moves in the West Bank is a hopeless optimist, who probably also believes in the goddess of luck. Such qualities are good for gambling in the casino and less for state management.
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Bezalel Smotrich
West Bank
Benjamin Netanyahu
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